I like Jazz, but not all Jazz.
Albums that I own and I like:
Time Out
Somethin’ Else
Bags Groove
Kind of Blue
Coltrane
Soultrane
Joshua Redman Freedom In The Groove
Ben Webster Live In Copenhagen
Let Freedom Ring Jackie MacLean
Yuko Mabuchi Trio
Monty Alexander, Love You Madly Live at Bubba’s
Erik Deutsch, Decades (An OR release) - I really like this one.
Gabriel Mervine, Live at Nocturn (An OR release) - This one, not so much.
A short list, I know.
I did a bit of searching and it seems that my jazz tastes tends towards Modal Jazz, yes?
Melodic and upbeat?
I am not a fan of Bill Evans (too soft) and not too crazy about Jazz Fusion (Bitches Brew and the like).
At this time, I am looking for more of the same. Quartets to orchestra playing the standard instruments.
For Jazz artists I am not a completionist. I do not need to have every Miles Davis album in my collection.
Based on the above, for more instrumental Jazz, please tell me where to go, next…
What other albums should I be considering?
Thanks!
Grant Green “Idle Moments”
Paul Horn “Something Blue”
Duke Ellington “Ellington Masterpieces”
Orrin Evans “Liberation Blues”
Joe Lovano “I’m All for You”
Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette “Standards, Vol. 1”
Chick Corea and Origin “At the Blue Note”
Stan Getz “Sweet Rain”
Bob Gordon “Pee Wee’s Song”
Kenny Burrell “Blue Lights Vol. 1”
Stanley Turrentine with the Blue Sounds “Blue Hour”
Greg Osby “The Invisible Hand”
Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio “Smokin’ at the Half Note”
Sonny Rollins “The Bridge”
Ben Allison, Steve Cardenas, Ted Nash “Tell the Birds I Say Hello: The music of Herbie Nichols”
Jose James “Yesterday I had the Blues: the Music of Billie Holiday”
Joel Ross “Parable of the Poet”
Emily Remler “Cat Walk”
Artemis “In Real Time”
Barney Wilen “Le Ca–The Place” aka “New York Romance”
I would suggest you explore the following artists:
Stan Getz
Paul Desmond
Dave Brubeck
Chet Baker
Art Farmer
Clifford Brown
Donald Byrd
Sonny Clark
Horace Silver
Charles Mingus
Oliver Nelson
That should keep you busy for a while. And if you stream, it’s only time spent. Have fun!
Milestones by Miles Davis. Also Milestones by Bill Evans “Live at the Village Vanguard” from 1961. I attended a graduate course at Penn to learn about the difference between modes and notes in 1976.
Just a hunch, Miles Davis Presitge Series is most worthy, Workin’, Steamin, Relaxin’ and Cookin’. Then Walkin’ and Bags Groove.
A bit more adventurous, and not modal, but fifties Charles Mingus can be most fun.
Also consider Thelonious Monk.
I should add many suggested below are not necessarily modal, but I’d like to think you would enjoy them all the same.
If you don’t have it and wish to explore I’d consider a decent streamer and a Qobuz account. That should keep you busy. Once you land on what you fancy you may wish to follow-up with LP purchases.
To confirm, based on the list that I started with, Modal is what I am mostly after?
I know that there can be crossover and bleed between different genres.
@RonP - Please, if you have time and interest, could you name specific albums, if any different from the lists others have already provided in this post?
@softlight64 - I opened the link and as I do not have a Qobuz account myself, the last four pieces are not listed. Please, if you don’t mind, could you let me know what they are? I like lists and I like them to be complete.
@jazzbirder - Nice! In junior high and high school I took Music as one of my options. I enjoyed it, but at the time, I did not take it as seriously as I should have or would have today. As they say, “with age…”.
@weedeewop - Fun and adventure is par for the Jazz course. Thanks! I will check out all that you have recommended.
Thanks again everyone!
Anyone else reading these posts please feel free to add/update the lists.
These albums are essential in my opinion.
An interesting work by Miles Davis is “Birth Of The Cool”.
And try Oliver Nelson’s “The Blues And The Abstract Truth”–also an essential album.
As you explore give us all a bit of feedback on your experience. I’ll emphasize for a small fee, less than the cost of a new CD or LP for a month’s access, a Qobuz account is hard to beat IME.
I neglected an essential one, basically similar to Miles DavisKind of Blue, also essential and an easy recommendation as well, Cannonball AdderleySomethin’ Else
My streaming account is with Apple Music.
I know, maybe not the best, and going through some of the albums and the Qobuz playlist that @softlight64 provided, I am starting to see some holes in the music that Apple has. More on that in a bit.
So far, starting at the top of the list from @lonson I have only had the chance to hear two: Grant Green “Idle Moments” - A good one. More Bop than Modal? I am not a big fan of the poetry of the artist speaking during a piece. But was only one song. Off the top of my head, I think Coltrane does the same in Soultrane?
Duke Ellington “Ellington Masterpieces” - This is great. Leans more to Big Band, IMO, but how tight and in synch they were! And Rockin’ In Rhythm - If you don’t start tapping your toes, check yourself for a pulse!
For the Qobuz list. FYI, you have Without a Song in the list three times.
I could not find Your Mind Is On Vacation, Holly Cole but I did find, Your Mind Is On Vacation, Dana Gillispie. Same? Or are there other, better versions to consider?
I could not find, Indifférence, Les Doigt De l’Homme 1910 or, Mama’s Blues, Jordan Officer.
Other versions worth considering?
I thought The Paul Horn album was not there, but it is, under Paul Horn Quintet.
Your Mind Is On Vacation is a Mose Allison original, his version is highly recommended.
I have the Jordan Officer songs listed because of his phenomenal guitar playing, a shame you cannot access those.
Glad you are having some positive experiences with the musical expiration you’re pursuing, keep it up!
